How To Thrive in 2016 – New Year’s Resolutions

Happy New Year, Southend!

After much guilt-free overindulgence during the festive season, we tend to look at the new year as when we wipe the slate clean. The new year brings new opportunity. When we take a moment to ourselves for self-reflection and look for ways in which we can improve our lives more so than the year before. Still buzzing with enthusiasm and excitement from the Christmas holidays, January is quite possibly the most optimistic time of year. But, before you start setting your sights on hitting the gym again (or any other goals you seem to set in stone every January but can never remember why you ever stopped…), use this time of self-reflection to consider meaningful changes that will make you happy.

According to British Military Fitness, 68% of British adults made a New Year’s resolution to get fit and yet 37% of those who sign up for a gym membership will quit by the end of January. If you feel you may be one of those well-intentioned 37%, then maybe it’s worth narrowing your focus on what would actually make you happy. Come up with real New Year’s resolutions and not just something to tell people when they ask if you have yours. Take a good hard look at what you’ve actually accomplished over 2015 and, like a road map of your life, use last year’s achievements to see the direction that you are going in and plot your success in 2016. Who would have thought that having New Year’s Resolutions that you actually care about keeping would be integral to actually keeping them! So clarify your goals for 2016 – and simplify them so that they feel more attainable.

If you’re looking for ideas to get you started in 2016 or how to source new year motivation from your local Southend community, check these out!

Wanna be an entrepreneur? Or just to think like an entrepreneur?

Essex’s #1 entrepreneur extravaganza is back in 2016 on 29th January to inspire those who want to start thinking like an entrepreneur. The word “entrepreneur” comes from the French word “to undertake”. Whether you’re interested in becoming a business entrepreneur (in the popular sense of the word) or not, the biggest undertaking of all is your life. Learn how to nurture your entrepreneurial creativity at this event, and start thinking about the new year positively by opening your mind to new opportunities that you never thought possible.

Thinking like an entrepreneur means thinking positively from a “cup half full” perspective. It means having a sense of self-value and approaching life as a trail of endless opportunities limited only by your imagination. It means knowing how to use your existing skills and learn new ones to help you get to where you want to be.

In an interview with the event’s founder, Baiju Solanki (Southend Business Man of the Year 2010), in Business Connected magazine, Baiju is asked:

“Is this event just for people who want to be Entrepreneurs and Business Owners?”

To which Baiju replies…

“NO. This is for anyone who has asked themselves…

‘Is this it? Is this what my life is about? I want to do more with my life and not sure where to start.’

What I have found over the last few years, is that if you think in an entrepreneurial way, opportunities open up for people. Even if you NEVER want to be an Entrepreneur or run your own business, if you THINK like an entrepreneur you become more employable, you create more choices for yourself and you feel better in yourself.

So whether you are looking for a job, want to change your job, a start-up or a business owner, this extravaganza will start your 2016 with a BANG!”

Be inspired by the women of Southend!

In March there is an event for the women of Southend to come together and inspire each other to be the best that they can be. EDEN 2016 is centred around the theme of “Embrace, Believe, Inspire” and is an opportunity to develop your self-confidence as a woman by participating in various motivational workshops and listening to the inspiring stories of real women from your own local community.

Want to make friends with women in the community and get fit in 2016?

If your New Year’s resolution is to get fit, then Active Women Southend may be exactly what you need to make new friends and stay motivated to keep fit and healthy in 2016… for FREE! Supported by Southend-on-Sea Borough Council and funded by Sport England Activation Fund, Active Women Southend has “fun fitness sessions” for women over 22 offering a range of fitness activities including Zumba, aerobics, swimming, yoga and more! All for free to encourage you to get fit in 2016, make new friends and have fun living a healthier lifestyle. So if you can’t afford a gym membership or feel as if you can’t stay motivated exercising alone, Active Women Southend remove the barriers making it easier than ever to get active (and hold up your New Year’s resolution).

Looking to make new friends?

There are countless events in Southend throughout the year, but sometimes it can be hard to meet new people with similar interests. If you search for Southend on Meetup.com, you can browse through local meetup groups in the Southend-on-Sea area. A great opportunity to find like-minded people in the local area who are just as keen to make new friends as you are!